SBC consultation on public toilets - various members of the public and parish councillors raised concerns about the proposal to close the public toilets. The following comments were made:

·       Visitors to Leysdown would have nowhere to go to the toilet, they should be kept open;

·       Leysdown Parish Council were considering taking the running of Leysdown toilets but needed more information before making a decision;

·       closure of the public toilets could mean that people might defaecate in public spaces which could be a health hazard;

·       children struggled to wait to find a toilet further away;

·       how had the number of people using Leysdown public toilets been calculated? and

·       were the public toilets at Eastchurch going to be demolished?

The Head of Environment and Leisure urged everyone to respond to the SBC consultation on public toilets and said that the matter will be brought to the September 2025 Sheppey Area Committee meeting for further discussion. He said that the average daily use of the Leysdown public toilets had been taken between May and September using passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors. However, the average figure would not be the only determining factor for the decision to close, other factors would be taken into account such as ongoing investment needed, proximity to other facilities and the outcome of the public consultation. The public toilets at Eastchurch had been closed for some time, and one of the options was to demolish them. Other options were for them to be re-used for another purpose or taken on by someone else.

Litter bins – the following questions were asked:

·       Why had certain litter bins been removed?;

·       there was an issue with dog waste being left on Leysdown Football Pitch; and

·       the Quick Response (QR) codes for reporting problems were not working on some bins.

The Head of Environment and Leisure asked for the location of the bins that had been removed to be provided after the meeting so he could take the matter away to investigate. He said that dog waste could be place in any bin and the old-style bins were gradually being replaced. Officers were aware that some QR codes were not working and the problem was being addressed.

Dumping of rubbish – a parish councillor said that since the Leysdown overnight charging for parking had been introduced, there had been an increase in dumping of rubbish in the layby opposite Harty Ferry Road. Would it be possible to close it off? The Head of Environment & Leisure said that a lot of resources had been spent on this issue already. Some of it was private land. A request to close it had been made and officers were waiting to hear back from KCC. If needed, it could be raised at the Swale Joint Transportation Board.

Communications with councillors – a member of the public said that some SBC councillors did not come across very professionally when responding to comments on social media and this could put people off asking them for assistance.

Shingle Bank car park – a Sheerness Town Councillor asked that when the Shingle Bank car park was closed for maintenance, would new facilities be added such as toilets and chemical toilet disposal points? The Head of Environment and Leisure said that no additional facilities were being added to Shingle Bank and the maintenance was just surface treatment and signage.

Disabled parking bays – a parish councillor raised the issue of disabled parking bays along the sea wall being used for overnight parking. The Head of Environment and Leisure confirmed that the Traffic Order would allow for penalty charge notices to be issued for anyone not displaying the required permit. Other legislation was being used to deal with people parking there long-term.

Warden Bay drainage – a resident said that there had been an ongoing problem with the drains not being cleared near the village hall. It was agreed that Councillor Moore and the Head of Environment and Leisure would look into the matter.